Friends, family shocked by death of Calgary teen in skateboarding crash: 'He's far too young'

Bryce Forbes and Annalise Klingbeil, Calgary Herald08.29.2012

Matthew Hill, 13, placed his hat on a small memorial as friends took a quiet moment looking at the spot where a young skateboarder died after a boarding accident in Millrise on August 28, 2012.Colleen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

A group of friends took a quiet moment looking at the spot where a young skateboarder died after a boarding accident in Millrise on Tuesday.Colleen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

The alley between Millbank Road and Millrise Boulevard S.W. is where a 13-year-old skateboarder lost his life Tuesday.Ted Rhodes
/ Calgary Herald

A group of skateboarders glide along a sidewalk near the spot where a 13-year-old boy was killed on a longboard Tuesday in Millrise.Ted Rhodes
/ Calgary Herald

Skateboarders look up the alley between Millrise Boulevard and Millbank Road S.W., where a 13-year-old skateboarder was killed Tuesday.Ted Rhodes
/ Calgary Herald

Wojtek Musial, 13, took a quiet moment looking at the spot where a young skateboarder died after a boarding accident in Millrise on August 28, 2012.Colleen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

Calgary Police Sergeant John McCarthy speaks to the media at the scene of a fatal skateboard accident at the foot of the alley between Millrise Boulevard and Millbank Road S.W, Tuesday afternoon August 28, 2012.Ted Rhodes
/ Calgary Herald

The alley between Millrise Boulevard and Millbank Road S.W. where a skateboarder was killed Tuesday, August 28, 2012. (Ted Rhodes
/ Calgary Herald

Friends of the young skateboarder, from left, Jarod Porter, 14, Josh Hughes, 13, Wojtek Musial, 13, and Ethan Doucette, 14, gathered to remember the young skateboarder who died after a boarding accident in Millrise on August 28, 2012.Colleen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

Calgary Police Sergeant John McCarthy speaks to the medical examiner at the scene of a fatal skateboard accident at the foot of an alley between Millrise Boulevard and Millbank Road S.W. Tuesday afternoon, August 28, 2012.Ted Rhodes
/ Calgary Herald

Laverne Schaffer points to the area at the end of the alley beside his home on Millbank Road S.W. where a skateboarder lost his life Tuesday, August 28, 2012.Ted Rhodes
/ Calgary Herald

Longboarder Greg Seguin placed some flowers as he took a quiet moment looking at the spot where a young skateboarder died after a boarding accident in Millrise on August 28, 2012.Colleen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

Neighbour Laverne Schaffer talks about the alley beside his home on Millbank Road, SW, where a skateboarder lost his life Tuesday, August 28, 2012. The accident was at the foot of an alley between Millrise Boulevard and Millbank Road S.W.Ted Rhodes
/ Calgary Herald

People connected to the victim in a fatal skateboarding accident visit the spot where a necklace was collected on Tuesday, August 28, 2012. The accident was at the foot of an alley between Millrise Boulevard and Millbank Road S.W.Ted Rhodes
/ Calgary Herald

CALGARY — It’s a popular spot where neighbourhood teens ride their skateboards during sun-soaked summer days.

But by Tuesday night, everything had changed.

Hours earlier, a sudden fall quickly turned into tragedy when a 13-year-old boy was killed after tumbling into a cable fence.

“It just doesn’t feel the same anymore — just ripping it down, having fun,” said Josh Hughes, a Millrise neighbourhood friend of the boy who later died in hospital.

“We’ve seen people go pretty far, casts and broken ribs, nothing like this. Nothing like death.”

Friends and neighbours have identified the victim as Duncan McRae, a beloved, friendly, funny and athletic teen.

Prior to the accident, the scene would have looked like so many others across the city. Teenagers riding skateboards, trying to squeeze in the last remaining carefree days of summer before the start of the school year.

But this day had a tragic end.

Police say the group of boys was longboarding in an alley near the 100 block of Millbank Road S.W. after 11 a.m.

One of the boys lost control on some uneven pavement, police say.

He flew into the wire between the posts of the barrier fence, causing a “catastrophic” injury to his throat, said Duty Staff Sgt. John McCarthy.

The boy was wearing a helmet and gloves.

Bystanders scrambled to help the badly injured boy at the chaotic scene.

Pharmacist Christine Wernikowski-Woo was across the street at Shoppers Drug Mart when someone came running in and asked for help.

She raced over but said two people were already performing CPR. One of them was an off-duty paramedic, said EMS spokeswoman Naomi Nania.

Neighbour Iris Gosselin said when she got to the scene, she saw three children in distress.

“They were crying so hard,” she said.

“They said he was just coming down the hill too fast and out of control.”

Parents of one of the boys who was skateboarding with the victim said their son is traumatized.

“He’s up and down, he’s pretty shaken up,” said Joanne Walsh of her son, John.

The boys had a sleepover the night before and were excited to spend the day longboarding in the neighbourhood.

“It could have just as easily been our son,” she said.

The incident sent shock waves through the community, especially among fellow students at nearby Samuel W. Shaw School.

The boy was set to go back to school to enter Grade 8 on Tuesday.

“They’re all just finding out now. My daughter was back-to-school shopping when she found out,” Michelle Russell told the Herald.

“He was my daughter’s best guy friend. He’s far too young.”

Just days before students head back to class, scores of parents will now face the daunting task of comforting grief-stricken children.

“It’s tough to explain it to the kids,” said Russell.

Police are calling the incident an accident.

“We were all kids. When you see a hill like that on our own skateboard and that’s what we would do, too,” said McCarthy. “It’s just absolutely tragic what happened to this child. Where we would fall off the board maybe get a broken wrist, he sustained some serious injuries that cost him his life.”

Not long after the crash, three men walked up to the scene, appearing sombre.

They asked onlookers if anyone had seen the crucifix the young boy had been wearing.

It was found in the grass near a few spots of blood left on the sidewalk.

“I’ve never understood why they put these things in,” said one man, referring to the barrier fence.

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